Travel Diary

By mid-January, I'm usually ready to trade my winter coat for a beach chair. If you're dreaming about warm sand, turquoise water and a seafood dinner by the ocean right about now, this one's for you. These are my favorite places to escape the cold — each one for a slightly different kind of trip. 1. ARUBA Best for: Guaranteed sunshine + easy island days Aruba is one of those places where you can pretty much count on the weather, which is exactly what you want when you're esca

If your idea of a perfect winter weekend involves a cozy lodge, a day on the mountain, après-ski by a fire and a really good dinner, New England in winter needs to be on your list. I spent years exploring the mountains of Vermont and New Hampshire, and these are the places I'd send a friend for a winter getaway — whether you ski or just want an excuse to sit by a fireplace with a drink. Here's my guide to the best New England winter weekends, including where to stay, what to

Here's my complete guide to Hilton Head Island — including where to stay, what to do, where to eat and the places I'd absolutely go back to.

I get asked this all the time: "So what does a travel advisor actually do?" Short answer: I take the endless research out of planning your trip. The longer answer is below — including exactly how it works, what you'll get and what I need from you to get started. WHY WORK WITH A TRAVEL ADVISOR? Planning a trip is fun. Planning a trip well is a lot of work. There are the 40 open browser tabs. The hotel reviews that contradict each other. The restaurant that looked amazing onlin

My go-to Pittsburgh list — the restaurants I'd book, the spots I'd bring a group to and what to do in between meals.

There are a LOT of places to stay in Cabo, but if you’re looking for somewhere that feels luxurious and relaxing without putting you too far from everything happening in Los Cabos, Marquis Los Cabos is such a good option.

New Orleans is one of those cities where you could show up with absolutely no plans, start walking, and somehow end up having an amazing day. But there is also SO much to eat, drink, see and do that having at least a loose itinerary helps — especially if it's your first trip. The key is not overplanning it. This 4-day New Orleans itinerary gives you enough structure to experience the city without scheduling every second of your trip.

Everything you need for a winter weekend in Stowe, Vermont, from where to stay and ski to where to eat and what to do après.

Just an hour outside of Cape Town lies the picturesque village of Franschhoek, nestled in a valley of rolling vineyards and dramatic mountains. Known as South Africa’s food and wine capital, Franschhoek offers countless wine estates, each with its own charm. One of the most enjoyable and stress-free ways to experience them is by hopping aboard the Franschhoek Wine Tram. On our recent trip, we chose the Navy Line, and it turned out to be the perfect way to spend a day tasting,

There are some drives in the world that make you feel like you’ve stumbled into a postcard, and African Eagle's Cape Peninsula Tour is one of them. We had heard people say it was one of the most scenic day trips you can take in South Africa, but nothing prepared us for the combination of wild coastlines, mountain passes, quirky wildlife, and a little touch of history. Here’s how our day unfolded. Chapman’s Peak Scenic Drive The adventure began with a winding cruise along Chap

Going on an African safari had been on my bucket list forever, but before actually doing it, I don't think I fully understood what the experience would be like. I had so many questions. Our stay at Hippo Lakes Luxury Safari Lodge in South Africa answered all of those questions and ended up being one of the most memorable travel experiences I've ever had.

After my last post about how to travel more, a ton of you guys have been asking how I choose where I want to go when I do get the opportunity to travel. Obviously, one of my favorite things to do is travel! I am very passionate about it and put A LOT of research into each trip I take. I always get asked by a ton of you how I pick whether I am heading to an island, a metropolitan city, the mountains, or somewhere else magical! And, since this isn’t the first time, I thought I’

Daylight, driving, packing, northern lights and hot springs: the practical answers I'd want before booking a winter trip to Iceland.

A Day of Bliss at Hvammsvik Hot Springs: Iceland's Hidden Gem Nestled in a picturesque corner of Iceland, far from the bustling tourist hotspots, lies a sanctuary of relaxation and natural beauty: Hvammsvik Hot Springs. Whether you're an avid geothermal enthusiast or simply seeking a peaceful retreat, a day at Hvammsvik offers an unforgettable experience. Here’s a glimpse into what makes this hidden gem a must-visit destination. Arrival and First Impressions As you make your

Whale Watching in Iceland: An Unforgettable Boat Tour Experience Iceland, with its dramatic landscapes and pristine waters, is a premier destination for whale watching. The country’s rich marine life and spectacular coastal scenery make it an ideal place to embark on a whale watching boat tour. Whether you’re a seasoned wildlife enthusiast or a curious traveler, a whale watching tour in Iceland offers a chance to witness these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat. H

Top 5 Restaurants in Iceland: Culinary Gems in the Land of Fire and Ice Iceland, renowned for its dramatic landscapes and stunning natural beauty, is also home to a vibrant culinary scene that reflects its unique geography and culture. From innovative Nordic cuisine to fresh seafood, the country’s top restaurants offer a diverse range of dining experiences. Whether you’re a food enthusiast or simply looking to enjoy some of the best local flavors, here are the top five restau

3 Days in Iceland: A Detailed Itinerary for an Unforgettable Adventure Iceland, the land of fire and ice, offers breathtaking landscapes, geothermal wonders, and unique cultural experiences. With just three days to explore this remarkable country, you can still pack in some of its most iconic sights and hidden gems. Here’s a detailed 3-day itinerary to help you make the most of your Icelandic adventure. Day 1: Reykjavik and the Golden Circle Morning: Explore Reykjavik Start T

2 Days in Copenhagen: A Compact Itinerary for Exploring the Danish Capital Copenhagen, the charming capital of Denmark, offers a perfect blend of modern design, historic sites, and culinary delights. With just two days to explore, you can still experience some of the city’s most iconic attractions and hidden gems. Here’s a detailed itinerary to help you make the most of your short stay in this vibrant city. Day 1: Classic Copenhagen Highlights Morning: Tivoli Gardens Start Ti

3 Days in Amsterdam: A Detailed Itinerary for Exploring the Dutch Capital Amsterdam, with its picturesque canals, vibrant culture, and rich history, is a city that promises an unforgettable experience. Whether you’re drawn to its world-class museums, charming neighborhoods, or culinary delights, Amsterdam has something for every traveler. Here’s a detailed 3-day itinerary to help you make the most of your visit to this enchanting city. Day 1: Explore the Heart of Amsterdam Mo

Top 5 Restaurants in Aruba: A Culinary Journey Through the Caribbean Aruba, the sun-drenched island in the Caribbean, is renowned for its stunning beaches and vibrant culture. But beyond its picturesque landscapes, Aruba boasts a rich and diverse culinary scene that reflects the island’s blend of cultures and flavors. From fresh seafood to gourmet international cuisine, here are the top five restaurants in Aruba that you should definitely visit for an unforgettable dining exp

Top Restaurants in The Hamptons: A Culinary Guide to the East End The Hamptons, renowned for its picturesque scenery and upscale lifestyle, is also a culinary hotspot where fine dining meets coastal charm. Whether you’re a local or a visitor exploring the East End, the region offers an array of dining options that cater to every palate. From seafood delicacies to farm-to-table fare, here are the top five restaurants in The Hamptons that promise a memorable dining experience.

The Best Activities in The Hamptons: Embrace the Charm of Long Island’s Coastal Retreat The Hamptons, a collection of charming towns and villages on Long Island, New York, is celebrated for its picturesque landscapes, upscale lifestyle, and vibrant culture. Whether you’re a local or a visitor, there’s no shortage of activities to enjoy in this idyllic coastal retreat. From pristine beaches and scenic hikes to cultural experiences and gourmet dining, The Hamptons offer somethi

Part two of our trip to Cape Cod to celebrate my mom's birthday was a day trip to Nantucket! None of us had ever been but have been dreaming about it for years so we were SO excited! There is so much to do in Nantucket, especially during the summer. Nantucket lies just 30 miles off the coast of Cape Cod, accessible only by ferry and plane, making it the perfect day trip destination. We woke up bright and early and hopped on the ferry at Hyannis Port (the same port we caught a

We’ve been making it a yearly tradition to take my mom on a trip for her birthday and this year we decided to head to the Cape! None of us had ever been to Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, OR Nantucket so we were super excited to spend a long weekend exploring, eating, and relaxing. In this guide you’ll find all of my favorite things we did in Martha’s Vineyard! Let me know if I missed anything that we should check out on our next visit! Since we only had an afternoon in Martha’s

Whenever I head to a new place I love to explore everything the area has to offer. My mom has lived in Panama City Beach for almost three years and there are still SO MANY things we haven’t done yet! My brother and I came down to visit her for Mother’s Day so I decided to surprise them with a Sunset Sail on a catamaran with Paradise Adventures. The catamaran leaves from the pier at the Sheraton Panama City Beach Golf & Spa Resort which is in such a picturesque area. We arrive

When we decided to go to Europe, I knew I wanted to make the most of our trip with long layovers. We've done this before, with a long layover in Paris when we went to Barcelona, but this time we decided to split our trip into multiple different cities. First on the agenda was LONDON! We would only have twelve hours in this beautiful city, so we partnered with Big Bus Tours to make the most of our time. Big Bus Tours is the perfect way to see a new city, as it allows you to hi

Unless you are an avid skier or snowboarder, winter in Vermont can feel like it will never end (and trust me when I say this…we sometimes get snow in June!). One activity that everyone gets excited for each year is the Hotel Vermont Ice Bar. While this year's festivities were slightly delayed due to COVID-19 (the event was scheduled to take place in February but was delayed until March 11 & 12, 2022), the weather did not disappoint us! I was lucky enough to attend the first n

This Valentine's Day weekend, Ryan and I decided to take a trip to the White Mountains to go skiing and have a romantic getaway. We headed one and a half hours east to New Hampshire's premiere ski resort, Bretton Woods, for a day on the mountain and an overnight stay at the historic Omni Mount Washington Resort. It was our first time in the White Mountains, and let me just mention, they are STUNNING! The resort is just as spectacular as the views of the Presidential Range tha

Can you guys believe Ryan and I had never been skiing in our neighboring state of New Hampshire?! We are only an hour and a half away from the White Mountains, so this Valentine's Day weekend we took a trip over the state line and checked in to the Omni Mount Washington Resort in Bretton Woods! We enjoyed many of the activities the resort had to offer, including skiing, a scenic gondola ride, and après-ski dining! You can view my top 5 winter activities to do at Bretton Woods

By now you all know how much we LOVE Stowe, Vermont! It was the first place Ryan and I ever lived together, and is just a short drive from where we live now. We also love a good staycation - so we recently decided to head to the mountain for a weekend getaway at The Stowehof. Located on 26 acres with panoramic views of Mount Mansfield, The Stowehof is a beautiful and charming inn reminiscent of a country lodge, with retro decor and hidden nooks throughout. Staying here means

My family and I have begun to make it a tradition to take a mini vacation for my mom's birthday each year. You my remember last year's trip when my sister, Samantha, and I took her to Greenport, Long Island (you can read my Guides to Greenport HERE) and had the MOST RELAXING long weekend. This year we decided to go to Cape Cod, as none of us have EVER been, and my brother decided to join along in the fun! Cape Cod is the perfect spot to visit if you're into quaint villages, s

We’ve missed traveling so much so we were so excited to take a mid-week trip over to The Lodge at Spruce Peak to relax and enjoy all that the beautiful resort has to offer. Spruce Peak is nestled between some of the most beautiful mountains in Vermont: Spruce, Mansfield, Sterling and Madonna. We enjoyed many of the activities the Lodge at Spruce Peak had to offer, including skiing, ice skating, and après-ski dining! You can view my top 5 winter activities to do at Spruce Peak

When Ryan and I first decided to move in together I wanted to find the perfect mix of city and country. Stowe, Vermont was THE PLACE and we rented our first apartment there. Now, nearly six years later, we are blessed to call this area our home and we absolutely LOVE it. Stowe is the PERFECT location for your winter getaway and there are so many reasons why! Not only is it the alpine Ski Capital of the East, but it also is a great place to get active with dog sledding, snowmo

Ever since we first saw a Seabob on the show Below Deck, Ryan and I have dreamed of one day trying it! We got the chance to join a private tour with Seabob Aruba and, let me tell you, it was AMAZING! Our guide Leo picked us up at our hotel, Casa Del Mar, bright and early for a 9AM tour - it was a beautiful morning and the sky was a bright blue with barely any clouds. We headed to Boca Catalina beach where we would begin our adventure for the day. If you have never heard of a

This post is in partnership with the Aruba Tourism Authority. If we could choose one activity to define our 2020 it would definitely be kayaking! We spent the majority of the summer kayaking around Vermont, so when we go the chance to join Clear Kayak Aruba for an excursion in Aruba we were so excited. We haven’t gotten too many opportunities to kayak in the sea so when we set off on our tour bright and early we were anxious for what would await us. Nico from Clear Kayak Arub

This post is in partnership with the Aruba Tourism Authority. When we first planned our trip to Aruba it was supposed to be a family trip to celebrate my mom’s birthday and one of her favorite activities to do is head to the spa for massages! Aruba Tourism helped us plan the perfect spa day and I was so sad when she decided not to make the trip due to COVID-19. We saved the spa day for the last day of our trip to make sure we were super relaxed before heading back to reality!

This post is in partnership with the Aruba Tourism Authority. One of our favorite parts about our visit to Aruba was all of the delicious food we ate! Our favorite restaurant we visited on our trip was definitely El Faro Blanco Restaurant! It was one of my favorite evenings of the whole trip - the setting was absolutely beautiful and really reminded me of a trip I went on to Italy when I was younger - which is so appropriate because they serve the most DELICIOUS Italian food!

xoxo. Alexandra #Aruba #ArubaTourism #PelicanAdventures #KiniKiniTours #FaroBlancoRestaurant #SeabobAruba #ClearKayakAruba #Vlog YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE CLEAR KAYAKING ON THE COAST OF ARUBA OUR RELAXING SPA DAY AT PURE INDULGENCE SPA, ARUBA OUR UNDERWATER TOUR WITH SEABOB ARUBA

When I was a young girl my favorite activity in Aruba was to go snorkeling. We would often bring our own snorkels and head into the shallow waters along the beautiful beaches to search for fish and coral. This year we got the opportunity to take a snorkeling trip with Pelican Adventures aboard one of their catamarans, which would take us all the way out into the ocean to explore shipwrecks and more! We started the day by meeting at the Pelican Pier, which is a great spot for

If you’ve been following us for a while now you know how much we LOVE going on an ATV tour whenever we go on vacation. We have ATVs at home and find that it is such a great way to explore. When we got the chance to partner with Kini Kini Tours on our trip to Aruba we were THRILLED! Not only do they offer ATV tours but they also offer UTV and luxury bus tours of the island. The ATV tour was the first excursion we went on during our trip and it was also the first time we have e

I know traveling in the times of COVID-19 can be stressful! You may have anxiety about entering a potential "hot spot" and then having to quarantine afterwards. You may worry whether or not people will be wearing masks or if things are properly sanitized. If I can recommend any place to go, I would highly recommend heading to the shores of Rhode Island. This weekend we had such an amazing experience visiting our friends in Newport and I felt SO SAFE the entire time! The entir

#NewportMansionTour #CliffWalk #Newport #RhodeIsland YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE OUR VALENTINE'S GETAWAY TO KENNEBUNKPORT SAILING IN NEWPORT WITH ADIRONDACK II WHAT TO DO | MY GUIDE TO NANTUCKET

Since we have lived right outside of Stowe, Vermont for a few years, Ryan and I have had a chance to try some great food and see some amazing sights. A lot of you guys ask me for recommendations when you come to visit the area so I am slowly putting together a list of all of our favorite Stowe things! The first restaurant I ever went to in Stowe when I first moved to Vermont five years ago was Idletyme Brewing Company. I am pretty sure that I went on one of the first days tha

You guys know I LOVE to travel (especially when it involves live music) and we definitely have seen our fair share of the USA while on tour with Twiddle. But, let me tell you, Frisco is legit one of the cutest little ski towns I have ever visited. The strip of Main Street that was our home base had some amazing restaurants (AND SHOPPING!) that I feel like I NEED to share with you guys! Plus, while you’re spending your day wandering you are SURROUNDED by mountains! It is absol

Time to pat myself on the back for a second …. I WENT SKIING IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS! Can you believe it?! I don’t know if you guys remember last year when I went skiing for the first time ever, and now I am essentially a pro! HAHA! Not really, but I can actually make it down the mountain without dying! When Twiddle first started planning the Somewhere On The Mountain shows Ryan casually mentioned to me that we were going to ski every day that we were there. I actually LOLed,

When Ryan and I first decided to move in together I wanted to find the perfect mix of city and country. Stowe, Vermont was THE PLACE and we rented our first apartment there. Now, nearly five years later, we are blessed to call this area our home and we absolutely LOVE it. Stowe is the PERFECT location for your winter getaway and there are so many reasons why! Not only is it the alpine Ski Capital of the East, but it also is a great place to get active with dogsledding, snowmo

If you are planning a trip to Kauai and looking for the perfect 7 day itinerary, then look no further! This guide will break down your trip with day-to-day plans on how to spend your time and see the most of the island. Get ready for an incredible week in paradise! If you are traveling to Kauai for a shorter period of time, you can also check out my top 5 activities to do while on the island! WHERE TO STAY If you have a 7 days in Kauai and really want to see it all, I would r

Kauai isn't that big of an island, but there is SO MUCH to do and SO MUCH to eat! There are countless options for breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert, and we tried to hit up as many as we could in the week that we were there. We ended up staying at the cutest resort called Wyndham Bali Hai Villas on the North Shore of Kauai in Princeville. When we weren't relaxing on the beach or taking excursions, we were exploring the different areas of Kauai and all they had to offer. Her

We had the most amazing time visiting Kauai for our first time! I did a ton of research before our trip and really feel like we got to experience the best that this Hawaiian island has to offer. Here are my top 5 activities to do in Kauai. 1. Take a Waterfall ATV Adventure On our trip to Kauai, Hawaii we were given the AMAZING opportunity to partner up with Kipu Ranch Adventures for a Waterfall Picnic Tour. This particular tour would take us to the site of perhaps the greates

I'm not sure if I have ever wanted to go on a helicopter until I started to research our trip to Kauai. The countless photos and videos I saw of the island from the air convinced me to get over my fear of heights (for the hour) and take off, literally! There are a ton of helicopter companies that tour Kauai, but we chose to go with Mauna Loa Helicopter Tours for two reasons: 1) the tour was private, meaning we weren't squished between strangers fighting for a view and 2) they